Headphones seem like they’d be the last thing to be detrimental to your appearance, but wearing them too much can actually result in a look that leaves you feeling less than confident when you walk out the door.
Called headphone hair, this frustrating phenomenon occurs when headphones rub against your hair, creating little strands of broken hair that stick out around the earpieces of your headphones and make it obvious that you spend more time listening to music than making sure your hair is looking its best.
Headphone hair can turn even the most put-together style into something that resembles bedhead and no one wants that!
So I decided to do some research, and I have some tips for you. Read on to learn how you can prevent headphone hair from ever happening again!
How to Prevent Headphone Hair?
Below are the most efficient tips and tricks for Headphone Hair:
- Stop Headphone Hair Before It Starts
- Protect Your Hair from Friction
- Use A Shower Cap
- Try A Slip-On Cover
- Don’t Sleep with Your Headphones On
- Be Careful When Choosing Headphones
- Try A Wrapping Technique
- Don’t Leave Headphones On Without Music Playing
- Always Wear a Hat or Ponytail Holder When Working Out
Stop Headphone Hair Before It Starts
If you use headphones a lot, you can prevent headphone hair by protecting your hair when you wear your headphones.
First and foremost, you will want to make sure that you wear headphones that don’t rub against your hair too much.
You can also try adjusting your headphones so that they sit further away from your ears, which will help reduce the amount of friction against your hair.
If you wear headphones constantly, you might want to consider getting a pair that sits on top of your ears, like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, rather than a pair that sits against your ears, like the Bose SoundSport Free.
You shouldn’t have to avoid wearing headphones altogether, but you should definitely take some precautions to protect your hair from friction.
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Protect Your Hair from Friction
If you’re going to wear headphones, it’s important to make sure they don’t cause any friction against your hair. You can accomplish this by wearing the right kind of headphones, adjusting them, so they don’t press against your ears, and using the right hair products.
If you wear headphones that sit against your ears, try using a lightweight hairspray to create a barrier between your hair and the headphones, so they don’t touch. This can also help with any static build-up you might experience.
You should also make sure that the headphones are sitting far enough away from your ears, so they don’t rub against your hair. You can do this by adjusting the headphones or by wearing headphones that sit on top of your ears rather than against them.
Use A Shower Cap
If you’re experiencing a lot of friction against your hair, you can wear a shower cap while you listen to music so that your hair doesn’t come into contact with your headphones at all. You can wear it while you shower as well, so your hair doesn’t get caught in your headphones.
If you’re using wired headphones, you can also consider wearing a headphone wrap to keep your headphones together and prevent them from tangling around your hair.
You can also use the shower cap to cover your hair while you blow dry or style it so that you don’t accidentally break any strands while attempting to straighten or curl.
If your hair is long enough, you can even wrap it around the shower cap to create a bun or top knot while you’re styling your hair.
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Try A Slip-On Cover
If you’re experiencing a lot of friction against your hair, you might want to consider investing in a slip-on cover for your headphones. These are usually made from silicone or other soft materials that won’t rub against your hair and cause any damage.
They’re designed to fit around your headphones like a sleeve so that they don’t cause any friction against your hair — they just kind of slip right over your headphones and provide a protective barrier between them and your hair.
Slip-on covers are a great option if you have long hair and you want to be extra cautious about protecting your strands from damage.
If you have short hair, you can also try wrapping your headphones in a hair tie or hair band before putting on the slip-on cover.
This will help to prevent any breakages or tangles from occurring, and you can also use the hair tie as a reminder to take your headphones off before you go to sleep at night so that you don’t accidentally sleep with them on.
Don’t Sleep with Your Headphones On
If you do choose to wear your headphones to bed, make sure that you take them off before you actually fall asleep. Headphones are a great way to help you fall asleep faster and easier, but wearing them while you sleep can result in several different issues.
First of all, wearing headphones while you sleep can make it harder for you to fall asleep. This is because your brain associates the sound of your music with wakefulness and activity, so it can be difficult to fall asleep with headphones on.
Wearing headphones while you sleep can also have a negative effect on your quality of sleep.
They can make it more difficult to maintain a healthy sleep cycle, and they can even result in you waking up with ear infections.
Be Careful When Choosing Headphones
If you want to prevent headphone hair from occurring, you’ll want to be careful when selecting headphones.
You’ll want to make sure that they don’t rub against your hair too much, and you should also try and select a pair of headphones that won’t break your hair.
If you have long hair, you might want to consider shortening the length of your hair or growing it out a bit before investing in a pair of headphones to use regularly.
There are also some headphones out there designed particularly for people with long hair. These headphones are often designed to sit further away from the ears, which can help reduce the amount of friction they cause against your hair.
You should also avoid wearing headphones with any kind of elastics, bands, or ribbons attached to them. These accessories can easily break your hair, especially if they’re made with cheap material.
If you have long hair, consider wearing a ponytail holder when you listen to music in order to protect your hair and help prevent headphone hair.
Try A Wrapping Technique
If you have particularly curly hair, or you find that your hair gets caught in your headphones more often than not, you might want to try a wrapping technique when wearing headphones.
You can wrap each ear of your headphones around the individual strands of your hair to prevent them from getting caught in the earpieces. This is especially useful if you have short hair or if your hair is thin and you find that it gets easily tangled in your headphones.
Wearing headphones with long hair can definitely be a bit of a challenge, but there are some ways you can protect your hair and prevent headphone hair from happening.
Don’t Leave Headphones On Without Music Playing
If you love to wear headphones but don’t want to experience headphone hair, you can help prevent that from happening by not leaving your headphones on without music playing.
Keep in mind that headphones are meant to be used with music playing. Otherwise, they can have a negative effect on your health. You’ll want to be extra cautious not to leave your headphones on for too long, as this can be bad for your ears.
When you’re not listening to music on your headphones, make sure you take them off. And you should also avoid wearing your headphones while sleeping, as this can have a negative effect on your sleep quality.
Always Wear a Hat or Ponytail Holder When Working Out
If you want to prevent headphone hair from happening, you’ll want to make sure you wear a hat or ponytail holder when working out.
You can also try adjusting your headphones or wearing headphones that sit on top of your ears rather than against your ears.
If you’re going to be sweating while wearing headphones, make sure you wear a headband or a hat to help protect your hair from getting tangled up in the headphones.
And if you don’t want to damage your hair, you should consider investing in a pair of sweat-proof headphones.
These headphones are specially designed to prevent water and sweat from damaging the inside of the headphones and sorting them out, which is definitely something you want to avoid if you plan on wearing headphones while working out.
Is headphone hair permanent?
People who wear headphones for extended periods may experience “headphone hair,” where the headphone’s headband exerts pressure on the head and flattens the hair. However, similar to scalp indents, the hair should typically regain its original shape within a few minutes.
How to wear headphones without messing up your hair?
- You can prevent headphone hair by taking breaks, adjusting the headband, and choosing lightweight headphones.
- To fix headphone hair, rinse your hair with water and gently brush it dry.
- Avoid using hair styling products if you plan to wear over-ear headphones.
- These tips can help you maintain your hairstyle while enjoying your favorite tunes.
How to get rid of headphone hair?
To get rid of headphone hair, consider these strategies: opt for a shorter haircut, use a hat or hoodie as a barrier (not too tight), adjust the headband for comfort, choose lightweight headphones, and take regular breaks during extended use. Experiment with alternative hairstyles to minimize hair flattening, and consider in-ear headphones or earbuds for a more comfortable listening experience with reduced hair impact.
FAQs
Do headphones affect hair growth?
Final Thoughts
If you’re someone who is constantly donning headphones, it’s important to be aware of the potential for headphone hair. Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to prevent headphone hair from becoming an issue. I personally recommend using headphones that sit on top of your head, or by tying your hair back before putting on your headphones, you can help ensure that your hair stays healthy and intact.
So there you have it, our tips on how to prevent headphone hair. I hope that by following these tips, you’ll be able to keep your hair looking its best no matter how often you wear headphones.
